Category - Nature and Outdoor

One of the things I love most about being a Kansas girl is the remarkable diversity of this state. In fact, if you had been along with me on my Yellow Brick Road Trip through the Northwestern High Plains, you would have marveled at dramatic rock formations and tasted the rich brew of a local coffee roaster. You could have experienced Kansas’ African-American heritage or hiked miles of scenic trails.

Fall in Kansas happens to be one of the best times to hit the trails ... with your bike! The temperatures are beginning to drop, the bugs are subsiding and the colorful scenes are unbeatable across our varied landscape.

Driving from the west into the eastern part of Kansas, the landscape changes from high plains to rolling wooded hills, and the Flint Hills in between. Headed northeast, specifically to Lyndon, Kansas, we set out on a mission to experience and explore the Kanza Rail-Trails on horseback. Dedicated to converting old railroad lines into public access trails, the Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy is made up of volunteers and interested citizens working together to develop trails that merge the historic importance of the old railroad lines with the beautiful scenery of Kansas.

Scott City State Lake, nestled in amongst the rising bluffs of Scott County, is home to some great Kansas historical sites and outdoor recreation. The campsites and lake were hopping with visitors when we toured the area over Memorial Day and I could tell right away that this would be a great place to spend a long weekend.

If you have the chance to spend an early spring day in the native tallgrass prairies of Kansas, you may hear the low booming sounds of a male greater prairie chicken attempting to attract a hen. Birdwatchers and hunters both flock to Kansas in search of these gorgeous birds, known for their peculiar breeding behavior.

Recently I took a short drive to Overbrook with my family to see some "real, live" buffalo. After all, it is our state animal and my kids and I had never seen one up close. We pulled into the Lone Star Ranch and had a picture perfect view of the snowy Kansas prairie and the herd, settled in and grazing just beyond the old fashioned country store. We were greeted right away by Terri Gibbs, who along with her husband Don, owns the property. The buffalo were a majestic sight indeed and unlike us, were not bothered by the winter temps in their thick fur coats.

Lurking off in western Kansas are two of the state's most fascinating attractions ... the rocks (as I like to call them). Igniting the scientific curiosities from within, these rock formations are some of the state's most bizarre and beautiful natural landmarks.

Catching a glimpse of any wildlife is always an exciting experience, but to see rare species in a natural habitat is a rare and treasured opportunity. In this delicate shift from fall to winter, the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge welcomes winged visitors who are in the midst of their migration. One such bird is the whooping crane.

One of the hidden treasures of Kansas is a very scenic county fishing lake called Clark County Lake. It is located 10 miles south of Kingsdown or 20 miles southeast of Dodge City. That 10 mile road goes through basically flat Kansas crop land. Then, like magic, before our eyes is this absolutely amazing multicolored rocky canyon with a deep blue sparkling lake at the bottom. It’s hard to believe it is Kansas.